Game Summary: The Cumberland Beavers opened the 2009 season with a 10-6 win over Division I Wisconsin Lutheran High School on Saturday, April 4 at the University of Illinois-Chicago in the Windy City. With the Sears Tower as a backdrop in centerfield, the Beaver bats awoke quickly from their winter slumber and pounded out 10 hits in the game, while a solid defense and good pitching performances from three pitchers held the Vikings down.

The Vikings, who were the visiting team, had a chance to do damage in the first inning when Beaver junior pitcher Graham Miller walked Chad Peters, hit Corey Henne, and walked Jess Stannard in three consecutive at bats to load the bases with just one out. He got out of the mess by striking out Marcus Raclue and inducing Eric Miellie to ground out to shortstop Nolan Scheps. The Beavers took the lead in the home half of the first, when RF Ryan Behling drew a walk. He tried to score on a laser to RF by CF Tommy Zappa, but the Viking fielders executed two perfect throws to cut him down at the plate. Zappa moved to third on the throw. 3B Sam Clark grounded weakly to the pitcher, but Viking pitcher Nolan McShane threw late to 3B to cut down Zappa, and Clark was able to scamper to 2B on the play. 1B Mike Forster drew a walk to load the bases. McShane got Scheps out on strikes, but a wild pitch cost him as Zappa was able to score. He then struck out Miller to end the inning.

Miller pitched a 1-2-3 second inning, and once again, the Beavers missed some offensive opportunities. LF Sawyer FollansbeeDelong struck out to lead off the inning. C Beau Bergstrom drew a walk, and was courtesy ran for by Brady Rose, who would eventually become one of the game's heros. 2B Graham Severson singled hard to RF, but Rose got a bad jump and was cut down on the throw to third base. Severson tried to steal 2B, but was thrown out when Viking catcher Jesse Stannard made a perfect throw to get him.

The Vikings took the lead in the third by scoring two runs. Miller pitched himself into and out of trouble in the inning. Lead off hitter Tim Filter singled but was cut down trying to steal on a perfect throw from Bergstrom. He then walked Peters, who was able to steal 2B. After striking out Henne, he gave up consecutive triples to Stannard and Raclue, and then walked SS Eric Miellie. He avoided further damage when McShane hit a ball up the middle that he was able to get a glove on and tip toward 2B. Severson made a nice play, recovering in time to grab the deflected ball and throw out McShane to end the inning and save a run. The Beavers drew one out walks from Zappa and Clark in the third, but were unable to take advantage of it.

The Vikings took a 4-1 lead by scoring two unearned runs off Tommy Zappa, who had come in to pitch in the fourth. Zappa got the first two outs of the inning, but an error by Scheps, the Beavers only error of the day and Scheps only defensive blemish after making several good plays throughout the afternoon, would be costly. Zappa walked Peters to put runners on 1st and 2nd, and Henne hit a double to the wall driving in both runners. He got Stannard to pop out to Bergstrom near the backstop to strand Henne. The Beavers cut the deficit to 4-3 by picking up two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Miller and Rose, who had come in for FollansbeeDelong, drew no-out walks. Both runners advanced on passed balls. Bergstrom hit a ball between 3B and SS. Mielle, playing shortstop, fielded the ball too deeply to have time for a throw, and allowed Miller to score and Rose to get to 3B. Mitch Blaser, in at first base for Forster, grounded hard into a 4-6-3 double play, but Rose was able to score on the play. Behling flew out to RF to end the inning.

Zappa threw a perfect fifth inning, that was highlighted by one of the most spectacular catches in Beaver baseball history. With two outs, McShane flew deep to the leftfield gap. Freshman Brady Rose sprinted at least 30 yards, completely laid out, and caught the ball just before it came into contact with the UIC astroturf. He was mobbed by his teammates as he came off the field. That very well could have been the catalyst to spur the bats into action in the fifth. Zappa and Clark led off the inning with consecutive doubles, chasing Melms from the game. Tim Filter came in from CF to relieve him. He got 2B Logan Jeffrey, in for Severson, to pop out weakly to 3B and Scheps to fly out to CF to record two outs. A costly passed ball allowed Clark to score and give the Beavers a lead that they would never relinquish. Miller drew a walk, advanced to 2B on a passed ball, and scored when Rose doubled into the gap. Rose was stranded when Bergstrom grounded out to 2B.

Another freshman, this time Adam Bielmeier, would get the pitching victory when he came in and threw two scoreless innings. He gave up a one-out double to Peters, but stranded him by getting Henne to fly out to LF and Stannard to ground out to 3B. The Beavers got four innsurance runs in the sixth with an outstanding display of "small-ball." Blaser led off with a single. Behling laid down a bunt down the first base line that was mishandled by Stannard. Zappa grounded to 2B Jordan Nelson who booted the ball, allowing Blaser to score. Clark laid down a bunt that was again botched. Jeffrey singled hard to RF driving in Behling. The Vikings brought in Peters, who got Scheps to ground into a fielder's choice, but then allowed a hard single to Bielmeier, advancing Jeffrey to 3B. Rose then hit a screaming liner to CF, driving in Jeffrey. Peterson struck out Bergstrom and got Blaser to fly out to CF.

Bielmeier allowed a one-out walk, but quickly retired McShane on a flyout to Behling in RF and a ground out by Nelson to Scheps to get the win.

It was a very good day for the Beavers. Previous to the win over Wisco, they scrimmaged La Crosse Aquinas and had several hits by a several different players and played errorless ball against the Blugolds, who played several younger players in the contest. Jeffrey, Scheps, and Clark all pitched well, and 18 Beaver players were able to participate.

On the previous day, the players, coaching staff, and several parents were able to go to Navy Pier and the Sears Tower for some spectacular views of the city.

The Beavers got home around 1:30AM, tired, but quite pleased to be able to not only get outside, but have memories of a great start to the season. They are scheduled to play at Unity on Tuesday and at Frederic on Thursday, but the ol' "white stuff" made a reappearance and could hamper that.